Welded part with barrier layer

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a welded part ( 1 ) made from plastic between the flexible walls of a container, in particular of a bag, with a stub ( 3 ) which is formed integrally on the welded part at the top and forms a pouring channel which connects the upper pouring opening of the stub to the lower pouring channel region ( 3   a ) of the lower welded region ( 2 ), wherein a barrier layer ( 6 ) is arranged in the pouring channel, which barrier layer ( 6 ) is opened by a projection ( 8 ) of a closure cap ( 7 ) which can be screwed onto the stub ( 3 ), wherein the projection ( 8 ) of the closure cap ( 7 ), which projection ( 8 ) reaches into the pouring channel ( 4 ), is fastened to the barrier layer ( 6 ), as a result of which the barrier layer ( 6 ) is removed completely or partially when the closure cap ( 7 ) is screwed open.

The invention relates to a part made of plastic adapted to be welded between the flexible walls of a container, particularly a pouch, comprising a spout integrally formed on top of the weld-in part and forming an upper pour passage that connects an upper pour mouth of the spout to a lower pour passage of a lower weld-in base, a barrier layer in the upper pour passage being opened by a projection of a closure cap that can be screwed onto the spout.

DE 297 06 157 and DE 10 2005 011 700 [US 2006/0201967] describe boat-shaped a weld-in part whose pour spout has a barrier layer that forms a barrier between the container interior and the spout pour mouth. In order to open this barrier, a spike-like projection projects on the closure cap and penetrates the barrier or barrier layer as the cap is screwed on. Such a design requires that the closure cap, after having been screwed onto the spout in order to mount the closure cap, must be screwed on further in order to be able to penetrate the barrier. For this purpose, a stop must be created on the weld-in part below the closure cap that prevents the cap from being screwed on too far and needing to be removed as soon as the closure is to be opened, that is to say the barrier layer should be removed. Such a design is complex, complicated in terms of design, and difficult to operate.

The object of the invention is to provide a weld-in part that is simple in terms of design and that allows the barrier layer to be opened or removed without requiring additional screwing of the closure cap downward onto the weld-in part.

According to the invention, this problem is solved in that the projection of the closure cap extending into the upper pour passage is fastened to the barrier layer so that the barrier layer is completely or partially removed as the closure cap is unscrewed.

In such a design, the barrier layer is not opened by screwing the closure cap further downward, but rather by unscrewing the closure cap, that is to say screwing the closure cap upward, and therefore the user not only removes the closure cap from the weld-in part, or rather from the spout of the weld-in part, but also simultaneously opens the barrier layer only with the unscrewing motion of the closure cap. Furthermore, with a very simple design and operation, an ingress of oxygen into the container is reliably prevented, so long as the closure cap is not unscrewed, that is to say screwed upward.

Preferably, it is proposed that the barrier layer is fastened in the upper pour passage or in the lower pour passage or in the intermediate region between the upper pour passage and the pour passage.

The barrier layer always lies above the lower face of the weld-in base. The barrier layer:

is at a spacing from the lower face of the weld-in base that is at least one fourth of the height of the weld-in base, or

is above the upper face of the weld-in base, or

is above the lower face of the lower edge face of the closure cap, or

is above the bottom edge of a tamper-indicating ring that is fastened to the lower face of the lower edge face of the closure cap.

Furthermore, the barrier layer can be a film of plastic or metal.

Reliable tearing open of the barrier layer is ensured if the barrier layer, particularly a film, has at least one weakening zone, particularly a predetermined breaking point or predetermined tear line. It is also proposed that the projection of the closure cap is adhesively bonded or welded to the barrier layer at the lower face of the projection of the closure cap. Furthermore, it is advantageous if the lower end of the projection of the closure cap forms a surface fastened to the barrier layer. The weakened zone can also surround the fastening point between the projection and the barrier layer.

A mode that is particularly simple in terms of design and that facilitates production is achieved if the lower pour passage located in the weld-in part has a diameter that is larger than the diameter of the upper pour passage in the spout that is coaxial with the lower pour passage so that the transition from the lower pour passage to the upper pour passage in the spout is formed by an annular constriction to which the outer periphery of the barrier layer is fastened, particularly welded or adhesively bonded, all around. The annular constriction can have the shape of a circular ring or the shape of a frustum of a cone.

An improvement in the sealing is achieved if the barrier layer (6) is expanded by means of a cylindrical tube (66) integrally formed at the bottom, which cylindrical tube lies against the inner wall of the lower pour passage (2 a). In this case, the production is simplified if the barrier layer (a, 6 b) expanded downward is produced in advance, particularly from a film composite, as a preformed part having the shape of a cup. The cup-shaped barrier layer (6, 6 b) can be produced from a film composite by means of thermoshaping or deep drawing. The barrier layer (6), particularly having the shape of a cup, can also be introduced into the weld-in part (1) by means of a two-component injection-molding process.

Embodiments of the invention are shown in axial sections in the drawings and are described in more detail below.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment having a plate-shaped barrier layer.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment having a cup-shaped barrier layer.

The weld-in part 1 made of plastic has a lower boat-shaped weld-in base 2 that can be welded between flexible walls of an unillustrated container. An integrally formed cylindrical pour spout 3 projects centrally and vertically on the upper face of the weld-in base 2 and forms an upper passage 4 that transitions downward into a lower pour passage 3 a [2 a] in the weld-in base 2. The spout 3, of the upper pour passage 4, and of the lower pour passage 3 a [2 a] are centered on an axis A. A lower face 2 b of the weld-in base 2 lies in a plane E extending perpendicular to the axis A.

A barrier layer 6 always lies above the lower face 2 b of the weld-in base 2, preferably at a spacing AB above the lower face that is at least one- to three-fourths of a height H of the weld-in base 2. Alternatively, the barrier layer 6 lies above an upper face 2 c of the weld-in base and below a lower edge face 7 a [7 b] of the closure cap 7.

A diameter D3 a [D2 a] of the lower pour passage 3 a [2 a] is larger than a diameter D4 of the upper pour passage 4 in the spout 3, and therefore there is between the weld-in base 2 and the spout 3 an annular, coaxial, and frustoconical constriction 5 in the transition region. A circular barrier layer [6] is fastened, particularly adhesively bonded or welded, to the annular surface of the constriction 5 at the outer periphery of the barrier layer so that this barrier layer 6 made of plastic or metal film forms between the lower pour passage 3 a [2 a] and the interior of the spout 3 a barrier that also is a barrier between the interior of the container and the interior of a closure cap that can be screwed on or the atmosphere, depending on how tightly a closure cap 7 that can be screwed onto the spout 3 produces a reliable seal.

The closure cap 7 is screwed onto an external screwthread 3 a of the spout by an internal screwthread 7 a of the closure cap and is formed with a projection 8 extending into the upper pour passage 4 and so far that a planar lower face of the projection bears downward on an upper face of the barrier layer 6. The lower face, or lower end, of the projection 8 is permanently fastened, particularly adhesively bonded or welded, to the barrier layer 6.

The barrier layer 6, that is to say the barrier film, has at least one weakened zone, particularly a predetermined breaking point or a predetermined tear line that surrounds the fastening point(s) between the lower end face of the projection 8 and the barrier layer 6, so that the barrier layer 6 is torn open as the closure cap 7 is unscrewed as the lower end of the projection 8 is rotated and pulled upward, thereby leaving the upper pour passage 4 and the lower pour passage 3 a [2 a] open after the closure cap 7 has been removed.

The weakened zone 6 a of the barrier layer 6 is preferably formed by an annular predetermined tear line formed by a laser beam.

A tamper-indicating ring, which is not shown and which indicates whether the closure of the container has been opened before, is preferably fastened to the lower edge face 7 b of the lower end of the closure cap 7. For this purpose, in an alternative embodiment, the barrier layer 6 is above the lower edge face of the tamper-indicating ring. In a further alternative, the barrier layer 6 is at least below the edge face 7 a [7 b] of the closure cap 7.

The weld-in part [barrier layer 6] can be made of a film composite of metal and plastic, preferably polyester, aluminum, polyethylene or polyester, aluminum, polypropylene, the PE or PP layer being replaceable with a sealing wax or adhesive.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 2, the barrier layer 6 is expanded downward by a cylindrical tube 6 b that lies against an inner surface of the lower pour passage 2 a and forms the shape of an upside-down cup together with the upper horizontal barrier layer. The cup-shaped barrier (6, 6 b) is produced from a film composite by thermoshaping or deep drawing. The barrier layer (6), particularly in the shape of a cup, can be introduced into the weld-in part (1) by a two-component injection-molding process. 

1. A weld-in part made of plastic for installation between the flexible walls of a container, the part comprising: an upwardly projecting spout forming an upper pour passage terminating upward at an upper pour mouth; a cap engaged downward over the mouth of the spout and upwardly unscrewable therefrom; a base integrally formed with the spout and forming a lower pour passage joined to the upper pour passage; a barrier layer in one of the pour passages; and a projection on the closure cap, extending downward therefrom into the upper pour passage, and fastened to the barrier layer so that the barrier layer is at least partially removed as the closure cap is unscrewed.
 2. The weld-in part according to claim 1, wherein the barrier layer is fastened in the upper pour passage or in the lower pour passage or in an intermediate region between the upper pour passage and the lower pour passage.
 3. The weld-in part according to claim 1, wherein the barrier layer is at a spacing from a lower face of the weld-in base that is at least one fourth of a height of the weld-in base.
 4. The weld-in part according to claim 1, wherein the barrier layer is above an upper face of the weld-in base.
 5. The weld-in part according to claim 1, wherein the barrier layer is above a lower edge face of a lower end of the closure cap.
 6. The weld-in part according to claim 1, wherein the barrier layer is above a bottom edge of a tamper-indicating ring that is fastened to the lower face of the lower end of the closure cap.
 7. The weld-in part according to that claim 1, wherein the barrier layer is a film made of plastic, metal, or a composite of a plastic film and metal.
 8. The weld-in part according to that claim 1, wherein the barrier layer is a film composite of polyester, aluminum, and polyethylene or of polyester, aluminum, and polypropylene.
 9. The weld-in part according to that claim 1, wherein the barrier layer is a composite of a sealing wax layer and/or a plastic layer having a polyethylene layer or a polypropylene layer.
 10. The weld-in part according to that claim 1, wherein the projection of the closure cap is adhesively bonded or welded to the barrier layer at a lower end face of the projection of the closure cap.
 11. The weld-in part according to that claim 1, wherein the lower end of the projection of the closure cap forms a face that is fastened to the barrier layer.
 12. The weld-in part according to that claim 1, wherein the barrier layer is a film having at least one weakened zone formed by a predetermined breaking point or predetermined tear line.
 13. The weld-in part according to claim 12, wherein the weakened zone surrounds where the projection and the barrier layer are fastened to each other.
 14. The weld-in part according to claim 1, wherein the lower pour passage in the weld-in part has a diameter that is larger than a diameter (D4) of the upper pour passage in the spout, the upper pour passage in the spout being coaxial to the lower pour passage.
 15. The weld-in part according to claim 12, wherein a transition from the lower pour passage to the upper pour passage in the spout is formed by an annular constriction to which an annular periphery of the barrier layer is welded or adhesively bonded.
 16. The weld-in part according to claim 15, wherein the annular constriction is shaped as a circular ring or frustocone.
 17. The weld-in part according to claim 1, wherein the barrier layer has an integral and downwardly extending cylindrical tube that lies against an inner wall of the lower pour passage.
 18. The weld-in part according to claim 17, wherein the barrier layer and and tube are produced in advance from a film composite as a preformed part shaped as a cup.
 19. The weld-in part according to claim 18, wherein the cup-shaped barrier layer is produced from a film composite by thermoshaping or deep drawing.
 20. The weld-in part according to claim 18, wherein the barrier layer having the shape of a cup is introduced into the weld-in part by a two-component injection-molding process.
 21. The weld-in part according to that claim 1, wherein the base of the weld-in part is boat-shaped. 